Its Her Story.. Chap3

'He'


' "See her... aaa... there... the one thats laughing now?"


The man in question searched trying not to be seen to be doing so. He spotted her.

A girl with hair braided in two thin loops.. she wore a bright green skirt and red blouse.Laughing loud as the group moved in no great hurry... Her face radiated a confidence and happiness. The kind of expression that told you the girl was in command of herself... a worthy conquest she would be. The kind that gave a man a feeling of worth to possess.

"Marry her. She's the smartest of them. midukkiya..."

The friend looked at him. He was a handsome man himself.. in his 20's. Kuriachan was already earning a heap from his own shop. A man of honest means. They had been trying to rope him in with eligible Girls in the village but he was busy building his shop. He had a shrewd sense in money matters. The eldest of a family with 10 siblings. His only brother was the third child but died when he was only eight... Snake bite... The nearest hospital of any sort was many miles away and the medium to reach there was across the thickets, a swinging rope-bridge and a long dusty road flanked by the paddy fields... and yes, on foot.

"Her mother passed away when she was seven. And with three sisters" the friend was saying... effecting a sigh. Of course it meant nothing to the fellow.On the contrary it was a hint that if he should want her, she was more for the taking than the usual procedures afforded for any girl.

The man smiled.Yes, the bubbly little girl looked perfect for him.He had decided. And she was hers.He had seen her see him... Now they moved away in concentrated discussion about him... or so he thought.


'She'


It was the first day after summer vacation.

Naaniamma was telling her of how she had got a 'pottu' on her forehead." A permanent one.. not the ordinary smeared one.' Pick a big red ant by the middle.. its swollen back means its got an egg in it. pop the tiny white egg out tto.. then press it onto your forehead where you want the 'pottu'. It sinks right in, Kalyaniii.. 'sathyam'!" "noooo" rang the voices in unison and they laughed at her..

The teasing and wisecracks followed for sometime as naaniamma tried to convince them. Her cousin next door was a verrrry big person... mother of a two year old. The cousin was four years older than her, she said ...and a very wise person. She could make lots of curries.. more than they knew. She must be very smart because her in-laws were nice to her. Hence her source was of the most reliable nature.

After the due tauntings, they sank into a more sober discussion of the truth of the story. " i think we should try it today after school" she said now...Nobody said anything but it was understood. When Susamma said anything, it was usually common word. She had that quality about her. To absorb vibes... There were girls in her class who envied her being first in class always... and most of the boys resented it... It hurt their pride... coming from a mere trifle of a girl...it was too much to endure There were very few who just respected her. She was also the most fun-loving of the lot. Always into mischiefs outside school.

"But you know what.... i heard that doing so is good.It makes you intelligent"......

" No.... what i think is that it harmful to the skin. The egg will go into your forehead and drop into your eyes sometimes. naaniamma must have been lucky alleee?? "

"i have heard that the egg will open because of the heat of our body and the ant will eat up the skin.... "


Susamma was silent. She was thinking of what was going to be taught in class today.

Today the 'maash' ('teacher')would anounce the class marks also.. What would it be this time?

She envisioned herself running up the slope into the arms of her waiting father with her slate .. in elation... she wanted to hear her father commend her... he would do so... yes, she knew it. She sighed.

A feeling of security enveloped her as she looked up and they crossed the school gate...